Armored Warfare has been available to the public for a little over a week, and during that time tens of thousands have joined us in a very strong start for the Open Beta. The first week has been filled with some seriously intense battles, with plenty of players wreaking havoc in both competitive PvP and coop PvE. The game is live, the queues are short, and life is good. But this is just the beginning.
Amored Warfare is about more than just updating the tank MMO battle arena genre to modern tanks. It was clear from there start the genre could use some fundamental improvements. Some early core values were very clear:
- Be fast paced to match the modern battlefield.
- You get no edge through paid content.
- If you play well, you will get rewarded.
- A worthwhile PvE experience is important.
- Every class should be unique and play differently.
- RNG shouldn’t rule the battlefield.
- Should include an RPG element.
- Don’t nickel and dime, make fundamental things like garage slots free.
- Give players good value for their money.
- Don't allow game breaking and unfair modifications.
- Make vehicle statistics transparent.
- Situation awareness should be clear to everyone.
- Listen to the community feedback, but verify through research and common sense. Artillery was improved thanks to such comments!
With the Open Beta popular start, I think it is fair to say that we have achieved these goals, and set a healthy foundation for future.
Moving Forward
A foundation, however, is not a complete gaming experience, and we still have a way to go before release.
You reported several issues since Open Beta started: The download speed on our portal was reported over the past few weeks, we investigated and could apply a fix last week. And things are better now. On another front, we are still working on those of you who gets stuck in authentication process. Finally, the bug that made premium time disappear will be fixed tonight. Those of you still needing to get their premium time back can contact our support to get their premium time back.
The next 3-4 months focus is about making the game functionally complete and ensuring the features and content we have in place is more polished and bug free. All of that is only possible thanks to your feedback, so keep it coming in!
Here are some of the things you can look forward to:
- We will complete the current dealer trees, bringing tier 9 and 10 vehicles into the game, letting players experience the most modern vehicles that are the most advanced today and will be on the battlefield in the near future. We will also begin work on a 3rd dealer, introducing vehicles from new regions of the world. In addition, all current vehicles will have another pass to ensure better accuracy, balancing, and bug fixing.
- More maps will be added, but almost as important, full passes will be taken through the existing maps for to ensure more balance game play. We will also be ruthlessly hunting down many known bugs.
- Bases will be developed into an important activity zone for the player, adding many new features that will benefit the player as they grow and interact with their base on a daily basis.
- Custom practice rooms, game replay recording, and improved kill cam information will make learning and improving your game and sharing that knowledge easy.
- Customization will also be improved with individual tank camouflage.
- PvE will also continue to be developed into a mode that is just as engaging and fulfilling as the PvP experience. A “loot system” and new mission objective types will begin to bring this system up to a much higher standard.
- Lastly, we want to increase the ability for new players to easily learn the game. This will come in the form of new tutorials, improved UI, and an in battle system that will show players when they are performing actions that help their team.
Long Term
Once we've nailed the details, mended any snags, and made the game more rounded and filled out, we know what some of our next important steps are, though how these features will come to look and all the other fun stuff in between the lines will be a result of the players.
- A dynamic and friendly “clan” environment, with the tools and perks for forming and managing your battalion.
- Several competitive modes. We want players to be able to complete at both a casual and high skill environment.
- Continue to integrate story and RPG elements into the fabric of the game and all the materials that surround it.
As you can see, open beta is just the very tip of a very exciting and giant tank-shaped iceberg. Thank you for joining us in the Open Beta. We hope that you will enjoy the battlefields we love to make for you for many years to come, and please, help us continue to shape this game going forward. It has been a labor of love, and the driving force behind Armored Warfare has always been the players. For those of you who helped us to get where we are, take personal pride in every comment and battle played, and for those of you just joining us, we hope that very soon you will look back and take the same pride in your part in shaping this game.
I am inviting you to share your opinions with us - especially about the issues you believe to be critical - in a dedicated thread, any constructive criticism is more than welcome.
Joshua Morris, Senior Producer My.com US
